A ROW has erupted over the use of Skegness mascot the Jolly Fisherman in promotional material displayed at a party political conference in the town.

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) hosted its Spring Conference at the Embassy Theatre last weekend, during which posters featuring the iconic character were displayed around Skegness.

Although the hundreds of out-of-season visitors attracted by the conference have been welcomed as an economic boost for traders and hoteliers in the town, Jolly’s inclusion in political material has angered some of his fans.

Mayor of Skegness Coun Steve Kirk, who opened the conference in his apolitical mayoral role, said it would have been ‘cheeky’ for them to use the image without permission.

And Coun John Byford, who has carried out extensive research on the Jolly Fisherman’s history, believes it is inappropriate for the mascot to be used in a political sense.

He said: “It’s always been said that the Jolly Fisherman is supposed to remain politically neutral and that his role is purely to promote the town.”

UKIP’s Chris Pain, however, claims to have received permission to use the image from Skegness town centre manager Stefan Krause.

He said Mr Krause had allowed the image’s inclusion as a means to bring the conference to Skegness, to help put the town ‘on the map’ and finds the opposition to its use to be exaggerated.

Unfortunately Mr Krause is not currently in the country to confirm or deny whether he gave permission to Mr Pain.

If Mr Krause did permit its use without approval he would have been encroaching on the jurisdiction of Skegness Town Council, which owns the copyright on Jolly’s image and is responsible for granting its use. Town Clerk Steve Larner was unavailable for comment.

HONOUR and decency is all that prevents Skegness’s iconic mascot The Jolly Fisherman from being used inappropriately and without permission, the town’s Mayor Coun Steve Kirk has admitted.

Following UKIP’s controversial use of the image in promotional posters and leaflets distributed at its Skegness Spring Conference, Coun Kirk was asked what could be done to prevent a repeat.

Speaking in the public session of the council’s latest meeting on Wednesday, concerned resident Ben Peel asked: “Would the council condemn themselves and UKIP for its use of the Jolly Fisherman in their promotional literature and what be done to stop that from happening again?”

Coun Kirk explained that although Skegness Town Council owns the copyright for The Jolly Fisherman’s 1908 image, the image UKIP used was from a later date, for which the copyright belongs to East Lindsey District Council.

Although Coun Kirk said that Jolly ‘should be used as an advertisement for the town and not for any political affiliation’ he felt that it would be difficult to enforce any unauthorised use.

He said: “We would hope that common courtesy and good manners would prevent it from being used without permission but to pursue everyone that uses it is not practical. It’s down to honour and decency – enforcement is not affordable and would not be a cost the taxpayer would approve of.”

UKIP claimed to have received permission to use the image from town centre manager Stefan Krause – a claim he denied at the meeting.

He said: “I’ve no authority to give permission to use the Jolly Fisherman – what I did was point the event organisers towards the responsible authorities – I did not give any permission.”

A SIX-time champion of the Skegness bowls circuit is considering boycotting all events in the town this year following an argument over trophies. Proving the Jolly Fisherman is as dear to the hearts of visitors as it is to Skegness townsfolk, last year’s mixed pairs winner John Keith Bowmer has taken umbrage with organisers East Lindsey District Council.

At the root of the issue are the Jolly Fisherman figurines presented to winners; once made of silver, then porcelain and last year replaced by a plastic alternative.

Mr Bowmer, of Mansfield, says the plastic trophies were only meant to be temporary and that winners were promised they would be later replaced by ‘real’ figurines.

But District Council says this isn’t the case. They say it was clearly advertised in last year’s programme that traditional trophies were not available, due to health issues for the normal provider.

“We still spent £2,500 on trophies last year. They were not cheap things we provided,” said District Council spokesman James Gilbert.

“I know people are very passionate about their Jolly Fishermen figurines and it is unfortunate that last year we had to provide an alternative.”

Mr Bowmer strongly refutes the claim that a change in figurines was advertised in any of the three programmes for events last June, July and September.

He says he is mainly concerned for his playing partner Beryl Holland, who won her first title in 40 years of trying in 2009.
“She was very upset not to be presented with a Jolly Fisherman,” says Mr Bowmer.

“We received a plastic prize, yet they took £5,241 in entry fees for the September tournament alone.

“They do very well out of us from Nottinghamshire in Skegness.”
A recipient of a £100 cheque for winning the mixed pairs, Mr Bowmer said he spent an equal £100 on entry fees and roughly £500 on accommodation, travel, food and entertainment expenses while staying in Skegness.

Now aged 74, he has won a variety of categories on the seafront in the last half century and previously held the national over-60s singles title.

East Lindsey Senior Sports Development Officer Matthew Archer wrote to Mr Bowmer in hope of clarifying the ‘misunderstanding’ and said the traditional figurines would be back in 2010.

He offered Mr Bowmer the chance to purchase a solid replacement for £87.50.

Mr Bowmer indicated he would consider buying a trophy to save Mrs Holland the heartache but told council that, unlike the Jolly Fisherman, they ‘didn’t have a leg to stand on’.

A NEWLY published flagship visitor guide for the east coast has come under fire for failing to put Skegness in the picture. John Byford, a professional photographer and district councillor, is hot under the collar because the “Skegness and Mabelthorpe 2010” production from Lincolnshire Tourism has an uninspiring picture of a sandcastle on the front cover.

And The Jolly Fisherman isn’t even mentioned.

Coun Byford: “I was horrified when I saw the front cover. It certainly doesn’t sell Skegness at all.

“The sandcastle looks as though it’s made from play-pit sand and not beach sand. Skegness is one of the top five seaside holiday destinations in the country and we should be reflecting that.”

He claims the guide appears to feature stock pictures that could have been taken anywhere and few people are facing the camera.

Coun Byford said: “The Jolly Fisherman has been promoting this town for the last 100 years and he’s nowhere to be seen.”

The councillor has taken his complaint to the town centre manager and aims to raise it with the district council so Skegness can have a voice before any future publications go to print.

But at least one Skegness hotelier is delighted with the guide. Ash Tyrrell, of the Westdene Hotel in Trafalgar Avenue, emailed his congratulations through to Lincolnshire Tourism and complimented the organisation on the guide’s “strong, vivid photography”.

And Mr Tyrell told the Standard: “I think it is probably one of the best ones they have ever done.”

He believes the guide is a hit because it covers so many activities and therefore has “a wider reach” than previous issues.

Mr Tyrell said the ‘Skegness is so Bracing’ slogan had served the town well over many years but people could also miscontrue that as a claim that the town is freezing cold – so perhaps it could be left out of the town’s marketing.

Tattooists will have to get permission from a local council in future if they want to draw Lincolnshire’s famous Jolly Fisherman figure on people.

Skegness Town Council, which owns the copyright to the original Jolly Fisherman poster, has told tattoo parlours they will have to pay £10.

But some tattoo artists have branded the idea “silly”.

The council said it wanted to protect the image, which was designed as a holiday advert for the resort in 1908.

The figure, designed by John Hassall, became synonymous with the town from the posters, which read: “Skegness is SO Bracing”.

‘Good publicity’

Council officials said they were not previously aware it was being used as a tattoo.

Its clerk, Tony Cumberworth, said the council was alerted to the fact by a taxi driver, who complained he had to pay to use the image on his taxi and argued the same charge should also apply to tattooists.

Mr Cumberworth said: “People have always been required to apply to the council to use the image but it’s only recently come to light people are having it as a tattoo.”

A council spokesman said: “The town council has no objection to people using the Jolly Fisherman image but stresses that the reason it requires anyone who wants to use the image to seek the approval of the town council is to ensure the original image is protected and not devalued in any way.

“The administration fee charge of only £10 is to meet the cost of processing an application for the use of the image.”

Joe Klackzka, who owns Joe’s Tattoo Studio on Lumbley Road, said he received on average one request a year for the image.

He said: “I think it’s silly, the Jolly Fisherman represents Skegness and we don’t pay to tattoo any other images.”

Dave Daubney, who already has a tattoo of the Jolly Fisherman, said: “I had it done because I was born in the town, it’s something to be proud of.

The Jolly Fisherman was recently presented with a framed print in recognition of his commitment to the town of Skegness during the 2008 Birthday celebrations. The frame was supplied and paid for by ELDC, with images from John Byford (moonhead.co.uk)

You can download the poster free of charge (for private display only – NOT for re-sale) DOWNLOAD

Photo below: 20×30 inch poster being presented to the Jolly Fisherman last week at the Town Hall.